Collapsible tire rim



Feb. 28, 1928.

H. G. BAKER COLLAPSIBLE TIRE RIM Filed March 9, 1927 Patented Feb. 28,1928.

.UNITED, STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. BAKER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T GEORGE B. RODNEY,0F

FAIBVIEW, KANSAS.

GQLLAPSIBLE TIRE RIM.

Application filed March a, 1927. Serial No. 173,852.

My invention relates to tire carrying rims ot the collapsible rim typewherein the body ol-the 'rimis formed of arcuate sections, with certain-oi" the sections secured together in hinged relation to facilitate themounting and disn'iounting of tires therefrom.

Objects which the present invention has in view are: to providea-collapsible tire rim having a novel structural arrangement of hingejoint between sections thereof; to provides in a collapsible rim havingsections, means for retaining certain abutting ends of the sections inpositive interlocked connection when the rim is in service position; toprovide a tire rim of the character specified wherein certain of the rimsections are struc turally arranged in permanently connected relationwhile at the same timebeing capable of relative movement; and generallyto pro vide in a tire rim of the collapsible type, a novel interlockinghinged connection between sections thereof. a i a a This specification,and the accompanying drawings, describe and illustrate but onepractical,physical embodiment of the principles of the invention, and itwill be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed,many structural modifications may be effected without departing from theprinciples upon which the invention isbased.

Throughout the drawings and specification like reference characters areemployed to designate like elements of the structural de tails. In thedrawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rim con structed inaccordance with the principles of the invention, and in serviceposition.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the interlockinghinge jointconnection between adjacent rim sections, as in service position.

Figure 3 is a plan viewof one of the meeting ends out the rim sectionsshown in Fig ure 2. I

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line lp-4t of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical section, transversely of the rim, taken on theline 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of one of the rim section ends as shownin Figure 2.

In detail, the rim is formed of a plurality of arcuate rim sections, inthis instance two substantially semi-circular sections 10 and 11respectively, each of which is formed in the conventional manner of suchrims with upturned side flanges 12, between which and on phe surface ofthe rim, is seated the casing and enclosed tube of a pneumatic tire ofany desired type, and as the tire forms no part of the presentinvention, any showing thereof is omitted for clearness of detailrelative to the rim construction.

Adjacent one end one of therim sections, arbitrarily designated as thesection 11, is

formed with a countersunk portion 13 as best shown in Figure 3, whichportion is substantially rectangular in configuration except that theinner corners thereof are rounded. The countersunk portion 13 isdisposed with its greatest dimension transyersely of the rim section andin its entirety 1s arranged equidistantly between the side flanges 12,being spaced slightly inwardly of the end of the rim section. Theportion 13 is also provided with twoside and end edge openingrecessescut therefrom which cooperate with the body of the rim section to formtwo rectangular slots 14, the inner side edges of which terminate inspaced relation leaving a web 15 of the rim material therebetween whichconnects the forward edge of the countersunk portion with the rimsection body thereby greatly strengthening the rim structure at thispoint in addition to functioning as a guide, as will be hereinafterexplained. Adjacent the inner end 160i the portion 13, a rectangularslot 17 i is formed through the material of the countersunk portion, andequidistantly between the side edges thereof,the length. of the slot 17being substantially equal the width oi the web 15.

The adjacent or meeting end of the rim section 10 has secured to theunder face thereof, as by the rivets 18, or other suitable fasten'inmeans, the parallel spaced arms 19 of a su stantially U' shapedconnector in which the said arms 19 are made integral tion. A downturncdlip 21 is formed on the head 20 for seating engagement in and throughthe slot 17 of the rim section 11.

In assembling the rim in its entirety, the arms 19 of the connector arefirst threaded through the slots 14 in the rim section 11 so that thehead 20 is fully seated in the countersunk portion-13 thereof, with thelip or lug 21 engaged in the slot 17 In the op eration of inserting theconnector, the web 15 serves to guide the arms 19 into proper position.The abutting end of the rim section is then seated over the arms 19 indesired service position, and the arms are attached to the section'bythe rivets 18 as shown. nected n permanently attached relation, but thejoint functions as a,hinge to permit tolding of the sections in thebreaking of the rim, as the head 20 may be freely raised from its seatin the countersunk portion 13 in the operation.

In service, the opposite tree ends ,of" the rim sections are lockedtogether by any suit-' able means designated at 22, which is ol theconventional structure in common use for the purpose and need not bedescribed in detail.

In serv ce position of the rim, with a the mounted thereon, the surfaceof the head 20 seats fully within the depressed portion 13 and liesflush with the adjoining rim surfaces, forming a continuous bearingsurface therewith tor the tire. The engagement of the lip 21 in the slot17 effectively prevents any lateral relative movement between theabutting ends oi the rim sections at the joint, and thuseliminatesdanger of friction and undue wear on the tire casing at thispoint, besides serving as a means for checking any relative creepingmovement between the sections longitudinally of the rim pcriphery. Theprovision of the web materially reinforces the joint and prevents anydistortion which may be caused at the forward end of the countersunkportion 18 by reason of its pulling away from the rim section body inthe folding operation by which the rim is broken? The rounded innercorners of the portion 13 and the head 20 provide for a ready seatingengagement of the head within the countersunk portion, and enables aslight pivotal movement between the rim sections in a directiontransverse the The two rim sections are thus con.,.

rim whenever such movement is required in aligning the free ends of thesections for locking with the member 22.

'With the rim in assembled position each or" the arms 19 in itsengagement with the walls of the slots 14 functions to prevent lateralplay between the rim sections on each side of the longitudinal centerthereof, and the lip 21 in slot 17 serves a similar funotion in saidlongitudinal center, the joint provides for a three point anchorageagainst undue side play, and at mutually spaced points.

1. A collapsible tire rim comprising rim sections arranged in end to endabutting relation, one of said sections being formedwith a substantiallyrectangular shaped countersunk portion having spaced slots in thecorners of the side adjacent the rim end which forms a transverse bridgeportion therebetween, a U-shaped connector having a width slightly lessthan the transverse width or": the countersink, the head of saidconnector being adapted to be seated entirely in said countersink andthe arms of the connector extending through the countersunk slotsstraddling the bridge portion, and means for permanently securing theends of the arms to the adjacent rim section.

2-. A collapsible the rim comprising rim sections arranged in end to endabutting relation, one ol said sections being formed: with asubstantially rectangular shaped countersunk portion having spaced slotsin the corners of the side adjacent the rim end which forms a transversebridge portion therebetween, said countersink having a slot adjacent theouter side edge, a U-shaped connector aaving a width slightly less thanthe transverse width ol the countersink, the head of said connectorbeing adapted to be seated entirely in said countersink and the arms ofthe connector extending through the spaced counersnnk slots andstraddling the bridge, portion, means for securing the .ends of the armsto the adjacent rim section, and a lug on the connector head adapted forinterlocking engagement with the outer countersunk slot.

In testimony whereof I have afl ixed my signature.

HENRY G. BAKER.

